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ress thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak. Till at the last spake in this manner. Chaucer. Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. 1 Sam. iii. 9.

Able to speak. Milton.

One who speaks. Specifically:

The office of speaker; as, the speakership of the House of Representatives.

Uttering speech; used for conveying speech; as, man is a speaking animal; a speaking tube.

To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor. Sir W. Scott.

One who bespeaks.

See Forspeak.

A prediction; also, a preface. [Obs.] Camden. Huloet.

To forbid; to prohibit. Shak.

Direct, forcible, and effective speaking. Milton.

To err in speaking.

To exceed in speaking.

To exceed in speaking; to speak too much; to use too many words.

To speak or utter again.

To unsay; hence, to annul or cancel. [Obs.] Pepys.

To retract, as what has been spoken; to recant; to unsay. [R.] Shak.

Not speakable; incapable of being uttered or adequately described; inexpressible; unutterable; ineffable; as, unspeakable grief or rage. -- Un*speak"a*bly, adv. Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. i. 8.

To fill with horror or disgust. [Obs.] It doth abhor me now I speak the word. Shak.

A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say a thing stops abruptly: thus, "He is a man of so much honor and candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more."